This contribution investigates the influence of outgassing processes on the vibration behavior of a hydrodynamic bearing supported turbocharger rotor. The examined rotor is supported radially by floating rings with outer squeeze-film damping and axially by thrust bearings. Due to the highly nonlinear bearing properties, the rotor can be excited via the lubricating film, which results in subsynchronous vibrations known as oil-whirl and oil-whip phenomena. A significant influence on the occurrence of oil-whip phenomena is attributed to the bearing stiffness and damping, which depend on the kinematic state of the supporting elements, the thermal condition, and the occurrence of outgassing processes. For modeling the bearing behavior, the Reynolds equation with mass-conserving cavitation regarding the two-phase model and the three-dimensional (3D) energy as well as heat conduction equation is solved. To evaluate the impact of cavitation, run-up simulations are carried out assuming a fully (half-Sommerfeld) or partially filled lubrication gap. The resulting rotor responses are compared with the shaft motion measurement. Also, the normalized eccentricity, the minimum lubricant fraction, and the thermal bearing condition are discussed.

The vibration behaviour of turbocharger rotors is influenced by the acting loads as well as by the type and arrangement of the hydrodynamic bearings and their operating condition. Due to the highly non-linear bearing behaviour, lubricant film-induced excitations can occur, which lead to sub-synchronous rotor vibrations. A significant impact on the oscillation behaviour is attributed to the pressure distribution in the hydrodynamic bearings, which is influenced by the thermo-hydrodynamic conditions and the occurrence of outgassing processes. This contribution investigates the vibration behaviour of a floating ring supported turbocharger rotor. For detailed modelling of the bearings, the Reynolds equation with mass-conserving cavitation, the three-dimensional energy equation and the heat conduction equation are solved. To examine the impact of outgassing processes and thrust bearing on the occurrence of sub-synchronous rotor vibrations separately, a variation of the bearing model is made. This includes run-up simulations considering or neglecting thrust bearings and two-phase flow in the lubrication gap. It is shown that, for a reliable prediction of sub-synchronous vibrations, both the modelling of outgassing processes in hydrodynamic bearings and the consideration of thrust bearing are necessary.

Hydrodynamic bearings are commonly used to support fast rotating rotors. Due to their nonlinear bearing properties, they strongly influence the rotor response behaviour, which can be observed by the occurrence of sub-harmonic oscillations. The appearance of sub-synchronous vibrations depends on the operating bearing conditions, which are determined by the kinematics of bearing partners, the thermodynamic processes and especially the occurrence of cavitation. In this contribution, the rotor response behaviour of a full-floating ring supported Jeffcott-rotor is investigated under the consideration of lubricant film cavitation. The two-phase model is applied as a mass-conserving cavitation theory and compared with the assumptions of Half-Sommerfeld.

The vibration behaviour of fast rotating rotors is significantly influenced by the bearing properties. Lubricant film induced excitations can cause sub‐synchronous rotor oscillations known as oil‐whirl and oil‐whip phenomena. The non‐linear bearing properties depend primarily on the lubricant properties, kinematics of bearing partners and especially on the occurrence of cavitation. Outgassing processes lead to a two‐phase flow consisting of gas and oil, which can influence the bearing stiffness and damping respectively and consequently the rotor response behaviour. In this contribution, the oscillations of a semi‐floating ring supported turbocharger rotor are investigated under the influence of lubricant film cavitation. For this purpose, run‐up simulations are carried out under the assumption of mass‐conserving cavitation according to the two‐phase model and compared with measurements. In order to illustrate the influence of outgassing processes, a comparison is made with non‐mass‐conserving cavitation theory according to the assumptions of Half‐Sommerfeld.